Part One consists of Chapter One which provides an introductory overview of the study and the context. The chapter goes on to provide the overall purpose and specific objectives of the study as well as the research design and methodology.
INTRODUCTION
- An introductory Overview
- The Context
- History of Conflict and Violence in Zimbabwe
- Elections and politically-motivated violence in Zimbabwe
- Peacebuilding efforts by churches in Zimbabwe since 1980
- Overall objective and specific aims
- Research Questions
- Research design and methodology
- Overview of the study
Ndlovu-Gatsheni asserts that violence is one of the major tragedies of Zimbabwe's contemporary history. It also gives the overall objective and specific aims of the study, as well as the design and methodology used.
NON-VIOLENCE, THE HISTORY OF VIOLENCE AND THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN ZIMBABWE
Introduction
The philosophy of non-violence
- The Gandhian philosophy of non-violence
- Martin Luther King Jr. and Non-violence
- The Non-violent Action according to Gene Sharp
- Justification of non-violent methods
Non-violent struggle is non-military, decentralized and participatory, but revolutionary in the inclusiveness of the changes sought. It is this deep faith in the future that makes the nonviolent resister accept suffering without revenge.
History of violence in post-independence Zimbabwe
- The Gukurahundi era
- Operation Murambatsvina
- Elections and politically motivated violence
The creation of Zimbabwe's National Youth Service program is attributed to the late Mr. The intensity and ferocity of the violence resulted in the discrediting of the 2008 presidential election.
The role of the church in Zimbabwe since 1980
- The role of the church in the first decade of independence (1980-1989)
- The role of the church in the third decade of independence (2000-2009)
These events redefined church-state relations as reflected below in the analysis of the third decade of independence. In applying the principle of the common good, some people remain poor and marginalized.
Conclusion
Introduction
AVP history
For several years, AVP focused on prisons and was two-fold - helping people reduce the level of violence in the prison environment and at the same time helping individuals deal with violence in their own lives. Over time, it became increasingly clear that violence in prisons is just a distilled version of the violence that permeates society as a whole. AVP has now spread to 58 countries and was introduced in Zimbabwe in May 2008 at the height of the politically motivated violence that gripped the country that year.
The AVP approach
- The AVP values
- AVP’s philosophy of non-violence
- The AVP model
Experiential Learning and Reflection – the AVP program teaches through experiential learning with a minimum of lectures. Bottom-up approach – the AVP model is one of building from the ground up. A “win-win-win” model – participants win because they get the training they need to deal with violence.
Programme evaluation
- Purposes of evaluation
In this regard, they argue that program evaluation generally involves an assessment of one or more of five areas: (i) program needs; (ii) program design; (iii) its implementation and provision of services; (iv) its impact or results;. First, there is a needs assessment, which social issues the program is expected to improve and the needs for the program. Second, there is an assessment of program theory that raises questions about program conceptualization and design. 2004, p. 54) claim that the conceptualization of the program must reflect valid assumptions about the nature of the problem and represent a viable approach to solving it.
Programme outcomes and impact
Activities are the process, tools, events, technology, and actions that are an intentional part of program implementation. Outputs are the direct products of program activities and may include the types, levels, and goals of services to be provided by the program. The purpose of a logic model is to provide stakeholders with a roadmap that describes a series of related events that link the need for the planned program with the program's desired outcomes.
Social change
Politically controlled investigations seek the truth but inappropriately control the release of findings to the right-to-know public. This research will be conducted in fairness, guided by the highest academic expectations and ethical standards to address issues of bias. Chapter six, on data collection methods, also highlights how issues of bias will be mitigated in the conduct of this research.
Case Studies of AVP Evaluations
- Significance of the evaluation case studies
The difference in numbers was huge - the experimental group with 175, while the control group had only 34. The purpose of the evaluation was to make an assessment of the effectiveness of AVP workshops. The study will also incorporate Halfman and Couzij's suggestion above to gain insight into the impact of AVP from the participants themselves.
AVP in Zimbabwe
Conclusion
Introduction
Understanding Conflict
- Root causes of conflict
- Galtung’s model of conflict
This is in light of what Peck groups under 'contemporary grievances' which include demands for greater political access and economic rights. In an asymmetrical conflict, it is defined by the parties, their relationship and the conflict of interests in the relationship. In the ABC triangle, he combines A and C (attitudes and contradictions) and refers to them as the 'root causes' of conflict.
Understanding violence
- Galtung’s theory of violence
- Relating Direct, Structural and Cultural violence
Kalyvas (2006, pp. 365-6) uses the centre-periphery theory to postulate that conflict and violence 'on the ground' often seem more related to local issues rather than the 'master-split' that drives the violence at the national level. In this regard, he further argues that conflict and violence 'on the ground' often seem more related to the local problems rather than the 'master cleavage' that drives it at the national level, leading him to postulate that areas, engulfed in the same conflict can show considerable variation in violence. He points out that placing the triangle on its direct violence head gives the picture of structural and cultural sources of 'direct violence', as shown below in Figure 4.2.
Conflict management, resolution and transformation
- Conflict management
- Conflict resolution
- Conflict transformation
This is necessary due to the communal nature of the violence experienced in the study area. However, Wallensteen also points to the limitations of conflict resolution, stressing that it does not necessarily equate to peace. Transforming deep-rooted conflicts is only partly about "resolving" the issues of the conflict - the central issue is systemic change or transformation.
Models of conflict resolution and conflict transformation
- Galtung’s Transcend Method
- Ronald Fischer’s Interactive Conflict Resolution (ICR)
In this case, the third party may have general knowledge of the conflict but limited knowledge of the conflict from which the participants come. The ICR emphasizes that effective and constructive face-to-face interaction between representatives of the parties themselves is necessary to understand and resolve complex inter-community and international disputes. The goals of discussions typically range from individual attitude change through the creation of innovative, mutually acceptable conflict solutions to improvements in the broader relationship between the parties.
Understanding Peace
- Galtung’s concept of negative peace and positive peace
Johan Galtung is considered the pioneer of the concept of negative peace and positive peace. Galtung (1996, p. 32) pushes the boundaries of positive peace further by linking it to the triangle of direct, structural and cultural violence and positive peace to each stratum. 1999), also recognizes Galtung's pioneering distinction between negative peace and positive peace – the former being the absence of violence, while the latter is the achievement of justice, fairness and social distribution.
The Concept of Peacebuilding
- Lederach’s framework for peacebuilding
They are at the top of the pyramid and are often the spokespersons for their constituencies. This is a top-down approach, which assumes that performance at the highest level will translate and flow through to the rest of the population. According to this model, the greatest potential and primary responsibility for achieving peace lies with the representative leaders of the parties to the conflict.
Conclusion
The chapter discusses the mixed methods research paradigm that was used in this study and explains that this study relies more on qualitative approaches. The chapter provides an overview of the research design of this study and also discusses the concept of evaluation. It begins by focusing on sampling before exploring the various data collection methods rooted in the mixed methods research paradigm that this study employs.
Introduction
The qualitative research paradigm
The case(s) are bound by time and activity, and researchers collect detailed information using a series of data collection procedures over an extended period of time. The exploration and description of the case takes place through detailed, in-depth data collection methods involving multiple sources of information rich in context. In this study, the youth who were trained in AVP in Gutu provide a case study whose findings can be replicated by churches to build more peaceful societies in Zimbabwe.
Characteristics of qualitative research
Creswell (2003) postulates that the qualitative researcher systematically reflects on who he or she is investigating and how this shapes the study. This is very close to what Babbie and Mouton (2001, p271-2) refer to as 'contextual interest' when the qualitative researcher has a preference for understanding events, actions and processes in the concrete natural context in which they take place. Also linked to this is what they refer to as 'insider perspective', when the researcher attempts to view the world from the actors' perspective.
The experimental design
The control group is an initially selected comparison group that was similar to the experimental group but was not exposed to the program. It does not allow understanding the process the program went through and its connection to the results. Care should be taken to avoid bias between the final comparison group and the program group.
Mixed methods research
- Strengths and weaknesses of mixed methods research designs
Tashakkori and Teddlie (2009, p151) identify typologies of mixed methods research designs which, according to them, are not exhaustive. In a mixed method study with a triangulation intent, different methods are used to measure the same phenomenon. According to Tashakkori and Teddlie (2009, p152), the major advantage of mixed method research is that it “enables.
Evaluation Research
These focus on the process or implementation of the program while asking questions about the program for the target population. The fourth is the evaluation of efficiency, which looks at the costs of the program against its achievements. Post-test only design How well participants are at the end of the program.
Objectivity, validity and reliability in qualitative research
In order to determine whether the participants have changed their behavior during the program, there must be both a pre-test and a post-test. The design involves observations and measurements before implementing the intervention (pre-test), followed by the intervention and administration of observations and measurements again (post-test). This refers to the degree of authenticity of the research that the results are the result of the study and not the biases of the researcher.
Conclusion
Where unreliability is generated by deficiencies in researchers, training and oversight systems can be used to improve reliability. Chapters six and seven of this thesis provide much detail on the data collection methods and analysis used respectively.
Introduction
Choosing a sample
- Probability sampling
- Non-probability sampling
- Characteristics of mixed methods sampling
The impression one gets is that to them non-probability sampling is purposive sampling. Mixed methods sampling techniques are combinations of the quantitative and qualitative methods above, where probability and purposive techniques are used. Tashakkori and Teddlie (2009, p. 181) argue that the researcher's ability to creatively combine these sampling techniques is one of the defining characteristics of mixed methods research.
Focus groups
- Types of focus groups
- Considerations in focus groups
What emerged from the focus group discussion is discussed in detail in the fourth part of this thesis. In this study, focus group discussions took place at the Chiguhune Roman Catholic Church, which was also the site of the AVP training sessions. This is why the focus group discussion sessions took longer, as stated earlier.
Survey Questionnaires and In-depth Interviews
Below are some of the critical questions they emphasize, guided by two key principles: avoiding confusion and keeping the respondents' perspective in mind. Question items should flow smoothly and logically and should be organized to aid respondents' memory or comfort levels. In mailed questionnaires, the researcher cannot visually observe the respondents' reactions to questions, physical characteristics or surroundings.
Interviews
- Bias in interviews
The style is casual and relaxed so as to minimize any gap between interviewer and interviewee. In in-depth interviews, Babbie and Mouton (2001) agree with Oppenheim (2004) that the interviewer's job is not to gather data, but to gather ideas. Influence of responses due to the interviewer's appearance, tone, attitude, reactions to responses or comments made outside the interview schedule.
Observations
One of the most important considerations that Babbie and Mouton (2001, p297) make is whether the observation should be open (transparent) or covert (secret). The ethical considerations that Babbie and Mouton (2001, p297) identify are linked to the observer's level of participation which necessarily has a direct influence on the behavior of the participants. To avoid this, I explained the purpose of the observations in advance, and the participants signed consent forms to that effect.
Personal Documents (Conflict Diaries)
Conclusion
Introduction
Qualitative data analysis
- Analyses of Focus Group Data
- Content analysis
- Thematic analysis
- Narrative Analysis
They argue that, as with other types of data, the nature of analyzes of focus group interview data should be determined by the research question and the purpose for which the data are collected. Such situational factors would include environmental influence, temporal factors, content, participant characteristics, and facilitator style. Moderator Moderator's style, control in the group, expertise, strength and knowledge of the issue; the moderator roles assumed in the session: the expert, the challenger and the non-knower seeking enlightenment.
Coding
Conclusion
Introduction
Profile of the community
- Recruitment of participants
- Sample of the participants
- Profile of the AVP facilitators
- Ethical considerations
- Choice of venue
The training process
- AVP Basic Workshop (Level 1)
- AVP Advanced Workshop (Level 2), 21 – 22 January 2011
- AVP Training for Facilitators Workshop (Level 3), 16 – 18 April 2011
Conclusion
Introduction
Focus Group Discussions
- Composition of groups
- Number of groups and group size
- Number of group discussions
- Duration of group discussions
- Ethical considerations
- Conducting the focus group discussions
Discussion and analysis of findings
- Analysis of the focus group discussions
- Analysis of findings: Participants’ diaries
Conclusion
Introduction
Conflict handling styles – a theoretical framework
- The conflict quiz questionnaire as the research instrument
Data collection procedure and analyses
- Pre and post-test experiments with experimental group
- Pre and post-test experiment with the control group
- Comparison between experimental and control groups
- Experimental group participants’ self-reports
In-depth interviews
- Interviews with the youths
- Interviews with community leaders
- Interviews with leaders of church related Civil Society Organizations
Conclusion
Introduction
Summary of the study
Reflections on the research design, methodology and data analysis
Limitations of study
Implications for the future
Focus Group Discussions: Outline and Guiding Questions
